Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who pledged to develop
democracy, won't participate in Russia's presidential election debates
on television and will send representatives instead.

Putin is seeking to extend his 12-year-rule in March 4
presidential elections amid protests in major Russian cities. Tens of
thousands of people braved temperatures as low as minus 20 degrees
Celsius (minus 4 Fahrenheit) in Moscow two days ago in the third such
demonstration since alleged fraud by the ruling party in December
parliamentary polls. While Putin, 59, is forecast to win the presidency,
his opponents have vowed to keep up their rallies to push for
democratic elections....MORE